Did you get a PET scan during chemo?

Hbollinger
Hbollinger Member Posts: 10
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
Did you get a PET scan during chemo?
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  • Hbollinger
    Hbollinger Member Posts: 10
    edited December 2013

    hello, i was diagnosed in august and i am 35.   I am stage ii with positive lymph nodes.   I am a little half way though my treatment.  I have had a good response to treatment and i am not able to feel my tumors any longer.   My question is have any of you received PET scan while you were going though treatment to confirm you dont have mets?   I am nervous and every little ache and pain makes me think it is spreading.    

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  • Hydavis42
    Hydavis42 Member Posts: 52
    edited December 2013

    Hi hbollinger I was diagnosed in July had surgery in August and began chemo sept 12 but before I began chemo I had a mugga scan ct of the chest and abdomen and a bone scan but not a pet scan. Usually your onc order these test before u start chemo to check for mets especially if u are node positive. I would ask why he or she feels the need to order a pet scan in the middle of your chemo. Please keep us updated. 

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  • Hbollinger
    Hbollinger Member Posts: 10
    edited December 2013

    i did have one before treatment.  My onc is not recommending one now, i am just wondering if anyone has recevieved on during treatment.   I assume just because the tumors are shrinking doesnt mean there is no chance that i dont have new mets that happened after my initial scan?  I realize i am being paranoid.  I have two young kids and a lot to live for.  

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited December 2013

    I had a PET before chemo.  (Also had CAT, MRI, Bone scan and EKG.).  The PET 'lit up' an area along my jaw so it was biopsied just in case - nothing there.  That is the only PET I've had in over 4 yrs.  I did 4 DD A/C, UMX and then 12 weekly Taxol.  The day of last Taxol, my Rads Dr insisted he wanted a new CAT before I started Rads the next week so had one.  


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  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 690
    edited December 2013

    I had one before treatment began, one right after chemo ended, and one just a few weeks ago.  I don't believe a PET scan is typically performed during chemo unless warranted - I could be wrong about this though.

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  • jenjenl
    jenjenl Member Posts: 948
    edited December 2013

    I had a CAT, MRI, Bone scan and EKG before chemo but not during or after.  I would suspect your oncologist believes it is not warranted based on the palpitation results.

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  • encyclias
    encyclias Member Posts: 302
    edited December 2013

    I had a PET scan back in Oct, 2012 just before starting chemo.  Got another one a month ago to see how the treatments have worked out and if -- at this moment -- there was any other cancer brewing.  It was clear, and quite different from the scary first one.

    However, a PET, like other scans, doesn't show very small carcinomas -- I think it says they have to be at least 5mm (or is it 8mm? Hell getting old, can't remember sh-t!) 

    Carol

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